Aileen, who has been a volunteer at Porthcawl RNLI since 1995, was
accompanied at the Palace by her family - husband Steve, daughter Frances and
son Dan - all who have also been volunteers for the RNLI at Porthcawl. Both
Aileen and Steve are retired Helms and now hold the office of Deputy Launch
Authority. Daughter Frances was a volunteer crew member until university took her away
from the town and son Dan is currently a crew member.

‘It was a complete surprise and honour when I was awarded
the MBE for service to the RNLI’, said Aileen. ‘To have my family with me at
Buckingham Palace made it really special day for me. Being a RNLI volunteer has
been a huge part of our family life, both children from their younger years,
were familiar with lifeboat crew and the commitment of volunteers. Steve and I
were so proud that both Frances and Dan joined the crew as soon as they were
old enough’.

Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl RNLI, Philip Missen MBE
said, ‘We are all so proud of Aileen who has been a stalwart at our lifeboat
station.

'She was one of our first female crew members and then qualified
as one of the first RNLI female Helms. During a rescue of two casualties on a
commercial fishing boat in difficulty out in the Bristol Channel, Aileen
demonstrated her seamanship and courage when, as Helm, she was recognised for
these skills and became the RNLI’s first female crew member in the history of
the Charity to receive a Bronze Medal for Gallantry.

'Her award of the MBE is recognition of the commitment Aileen
has shown to the RNLI and to our lifeboat station here in Porthcawl’.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.